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University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: Chris Tucci - UMass Athletics
Three Minutemen Selected To East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
July 15, 2022 | Football
Merriweather, Wallace and Wooden land on the list among the best 1,000 players through college football.
TAMPA, Fla. – Three members of the University of Massachusetts football team were selected to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list, which consists of the best 1,000 players throughout all of college football who are currently all-star game eligible for the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 2023 NFL Draft Class. Running back Ellis Merriweather, cornerback Josh Wallace and defensive tackle Billy Wooden all earned a spot on the list.
Merriweather, Wallace and Wooden were all named 2022 Phil Steele Preseason Independent All-Conference members, as Merriweather garnered First Team honors, while Wallace and Wooden placed on Second Team.
Merriweather became Massachusetts' first 1,000-yard rusher in the program's FBS era and finished the 2021 season with 1,303 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. He tallied 218 consecutive carries without any fumbles and totaled a career-high 39 carries for 171 yards and two touchdowns, leading UMass to its first victory of the 2021 season. The Alpharetta, Georgia, native, also established a new school single-season record, posting 100 or more rushing yards in seven contests, including 749 yards in the last five games alone. He put up a career best 177 yards against Rhode Island (11/13) and capped the season with longest touchdown of his career at 79 yards at New Mexico State (11/27). Merriweather received 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team honors.
Wallace, a 2020 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team honoree, compiled 53 total tackles last season, including 32 solo tackles. He also added four tackles for loss for 10 yards and one sack. The Hyattsville, Maryland, native, tallied a team-high 12 pass breakups.
Wooden competed in 10 of the team's 12 games, making four tackles, including 0.5 for a loss of three yards, against Boston College (9/11). He finished the season with 38 tackles recorded and eight tackles for loss.
The Minutemen begin the year with a trip to Tulane on Saturday, September 3, at 7 p.m., and will compete at McGuirk Alumni Stadium for the first time on Saturday, September 17, against Stony Brook.
Single game tickets for the 2022 football season will go on sale for the general public on Tuesday, July 19, through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office. For more information, click here.
Merriweather, Wallace and Wooden were all named 2022 Phil Steele Preseason Independent All-Conference members, as Merriweather garnered First Team honors, while Wallace and Wooden placed on Second Team.
Merriweather became Massachusetts' first 1,000-yard rusher in the program's FBS era and finished the 2021 season with 1,303 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. He tallied 218 consecutive carries without any fumbles and totaled a career-high 39 carries for 171 yards and two touchdowns, leading UMass to its first victory of the 2021 season. The Alpharetta, Georgia, native, also established a new school single-season record, posting 100 or more rushing yards in seven contests, including 749 yards in the last five games alone. He put up a career best 177 yards against Rhode Island (11/13) and capped the season with longest touchdown of his career at 79 yards at New Mexico State (11/27). Merriweather received 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team honors.
Wallace, a 2020 Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team honoree, compiled 53 total tackles last season, including 32 solo tackles. He also added four tackles for loss for 10 yards and one sack. The Hyattsville, Maryland, native, tallied a team-high 12 pass breakups.
Wooden competed in 10 of the team's 12 games, making four tackles, including 0.5 for a loss of three yards, against Boston College (9/11). He finished the season with 38 tackles recorded and eight tackles for loss.
The Minutemen begin the year with a trip to Tulane on Saturday, September 3, at 7 p.m., and will compete at McGuirk Alumni Stadium for the first time on Saturday, September 17, against Stony Brook.
Single game tickets for the 2022 football season will go on sale for the general public on Tuesday, July 19, through the UMass Athletics Ticket Office. For more information, click here.
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